Perry: 'Ideal world is one without abortion'

By Peggy Fikac :
January 26, 2013
: Updated: January 26, 2013 11:18pm

The crowd watches as Governor Rick Perry speaks during the Texas Alliance for Life Rally at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Wendy Bradley, of Cedar Park, right, sings "God Bless America" with Larin Harp, who is deaf and blind and was adopted by the sign language interpreter for the rally, during the Texas Alliance for Life Rally at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013.

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, finding biblical significance in the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, assured thousands of activists at the Texas Capitol on Saturday that this legislative session will build on past efforts to restrict abortion.

“The ideal world is one without abortion. Until then, we will continue to pass laws to ensure abortions are as rare as possible under existing law,” Perry told the Rally for Life crowd, peppered with signs proclaiming, “Save our little angels,” “No regrets! Choose life” and similar sentiments.

“When God sent the floodwaters, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Only Noah and those on his ark survived,” Perry said. “When Jesus entered the desert and was tested by the devil, he fasted for 40 days, and he rejected the devil's temptations. When the Israelites went out into the wilderness, they wandered lost for 40 years.

“Last week, America began its 40th year lost under the rule of Roe versus Wade,” he said of the Jan. 22, 1973, ruling. “It's a tragic time for our nation's own moral wilderness.”

The Republican leaders reiterated their commitment to building on laws such as those requiring a sonogram before a woman has an abortion and parental consent for a minor to have the procedure, along with a decision to withhold money from Planned Parenthood clinics.

“I know this session, working together, we'll be able to cement the fact that Texas is the most pro-family, pro-life, pro-value state in America,” Dewhurst said.

Abbott said one of the state's great responsibilities is “to give every child a chance in life. But every child's chance
in life starts with a chance
at life,” he said.

Perry reiterated his support at the rally for measures to “ensure the safety of women that undergo this procedure” by holding abortion clinics to the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers and requiring any doctor performing abortions to have admitting privileges to a hospital.

NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, which promotes the right to choose abortion, said Perry and lawmakers should instead focus on preventive health, education and other services that Texans need after budget cuts made in 2011.

The group said family planning clinics have closed around Texas and noted the controversy over barring Planned Parenthood from a program that provides health screenings and contraceptives to women.

“The legislation Governor Perry referenced in his speech at the rally today has absolutely nothing to do with the health and safety of women and does nothing to reduce the need for abortions,” Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, said in a statement.

“The best way to ensure the safety of Texas women who seek abortions is to make that service accessible to them. Texans do not want to return to the days of women dying from self-induced abortions, pre-Roe v. Wade.”

Joe Landin, 45, of Waller, said he and his wife each year bring students to the annual rally from their Tomball church's youth group. He said it was valuable for the students to hear speakers talk about the mistakes they had made.

One anti-abortion activist spoke of the sorrow she still feels decades after having an abortion as a college student and of her subsequent work to ensure other women know they have alternatives.

“We're not perfect. We just strive to be the best we can,” Landin said. “That's the message we want to bring out to our children.”

Mary Ann Wolfshohl, 48, of San Antonio, attended the rally with her two daughters to support the effort and draw energy from others involved in the cause.

“It's a heavy thing to be involved in. There's a lot of sadness,” Wolfshohl said, making it important to gather with a supportive community.